Networking aimed solely at businesswomen in the North East is continuing to thrive despite the huge number of mixed business networking events available. Karen Dent finds out more about one women-only networking group for entrepreneurs in County Durham.
More than 90 women working in and around Durham City are now members of FIND, which provides them with a central hub to access business information, education, support and guidance.
Although it has a central theme of friendship, the group’s main aim remains boosting female entrepreneurship and combating statistics which regularly suggest that women are half as likely to be involved in starting up a business as men.
Members range from women at the pre-start-up stage who are still finalising their business idea to businesswomen whose companies have been established for years and are seeking new clients or new ideas.
In addition to providing a network of contacts and the opportunity to share information, FIND organises regular seminars and workshops which are usually held at the Durham Marriott Hotel.
Ms Williams-Maughan says the group is an important outlet for local female entrepreneurs.
“The majority of members are people like me working from home who don’t have colleagues to bounce ideas off,” she says.
FIND was the first networking group that marketing and PR woman Sarah Weightman tried after starting up her own business.
Durham-based Ms Weightman says: “I was a little bit nervous going for the first time. I found it to be really welcoming and it gave me confidence to go along to other ones.”
She says that making the initial move to attend a session can be intimidating to start with.
But she reckons her main worry was her young age rather than the fact she was female.
“I started my business when I was 25. I was always one of the youngest there,” she said. “That in itself made it a little bit difficult. It’s perhaps more an experience thing.”
But discovering FIND gave her the confidence to learn more about networking and how valuable it can be to fledgling entrepreneurs.
“Since then I’ve gone along to other ones, maybe more traditional networking events,” said Ms Weightman.
“I’ve met some really valuable contacts – people I’ve started to work in partnership with and people where I have become their client, such as chartered accountants. It’s just really valuable and useful.”
More than 90 women working in and around Durham City are now members of FIND, which provides them with a central hub to access business information, education, support and guidance.
Although it has a central theme of friendship, the group’s main aim remains boosting female entrepreneurship and combating statistics which regularly suggest that women are half as likely to be involved in starting up a business as men.
Members range from women at the pre-start-up stage who are still finalising their business idea to businesswomen whose companies have been established for years and are seeking new clients or new ideas.
In addition to providing a network of contacts and the opportunity to share information, FIND organises regular seminars and workshops which are usually held at the Durham Marriott Hotel.
Ms Williams-Maughan says the group is an important outlet for local female entrepreneurs.
“The majority of members are people like me working from home who don’t have colleagues to bounce ideas off,” she says.
FIND was the first networking group that marketing and PR woman Sarah Weightman tried after starting up her own business.
Durham-based Ms Weightman says: “I was a little bit nervous going for the first time. I found it to be really welcoming and it gave me confidence to go along to other ones.”
She says that making the initial move to attend a session can be intimidating to start with.
But she reckons her main worry was her young age rather than the fact she was female.
“I started my business when I was 25. I was always one of the youngest there,” she said. “That in itself made it a little bit difficult. It’s perhaps more an experience thing.”
But discovering FIND gave her the confidence to learn more about networking and how valuable it can be to fledgling entrepreneurs.
“Since then I’ve gone along to other ones, maybe more traditional networking events,” said Ms Weightman.
“I’ve met some really valuable contacts – people I’ve started to work in partnership with and people where I have become their client, such as chartered accountants. It’s just really valuable and useful.”
More than 90 women working in and around Durham City are now members of FIND, which provides them with a central hub to access business information, education, support and guidance.
Although it has a central theme of friendship, the group’s main aim remains boosting female entrepreneurship and combating statistics which regularly suggest that women are half as likely to be involved in starting up a business as men.
Members range from women at the pre-start-up stage who are still finalising their business idea to businesswomen whose companies have been established for years and are seeking new clients or new ideas.
In addition to providing a network of contacts and the opportunity to share information, FIND organises regular seminars and workshops which are usually held at the Durham Marriott Hotel.
Ms Williams-Maughan says the group is an important outlet for local female entrepreneurs.
“The majority of members are people like me working from home who don’t have colleagues to bounce ideas off,” she says.
FIND was the first networking group that marketing and PR woman Sarah Weightman tried after starting up her own business.
Durham-based Ms Weightman says: “I was a little bit nervous going for the first time. I found it to be really welcoming and it gave me confidence to go along to other ones.”
She says that making the initial move to attend a session can be intimidating to start with.
But she reckons her main worry was her young age rather than the fact she was female.
“I started my business when I was 25. I was always one of the youngest there,” she said. “That in itself made it a little bit difficult. It’s perhaps more an experience thing.”
But discovering FIND gave her the confidence to learn more about networking and how valuable it can be to fledgling entrepreneurs.
“Since then I’ve gone along to other ones, maybe more traditional networking events,” said Ms Weightman.
“I’ve met some really valuable contacts – people I’ve started to work in partnership with and people where I have become their client, such as chartered accountants. It’s just really valuable and useful.”
Although it has a central theme of friendship, the group’s main aim remains boosting female entrepreneurship and combating statistics which regularly suggest that women are half as likely to be involved in starting up a business as men.
Members range from women at the pre-start-up stage who are still finalising their business idea to businesswomen whose companies have been established for years and are seeking new clients or new ideas.
In addition to providing a network of contacts and the opportunity to share information, FIND organises regular seminars and workshops which are usually held at the Durham Marriott Hotel.
Ms Williams-Maughan says the group is an important outlet for local female entrepreneurs.
“The majority of members are people like me working from home who don’t have colleagues to bounce ideas off,” she says.
FIND was the first networking group that marketing and PR woman Sarah Weightman tried after starting up her own business.
Durham-based Ms Weightman says: “I was a little bit nervous going for the first time. I found it to be really welcoming and it gave me confidence to go along to other ones.”
She says that making the initial move to attend a session can be intimidating to start with.
But she reckons her main worry was her young age rather than the fact she was female.
“I started my business when I was 25. I was always one of the youngest there,” she said. “That in itself made it a little bit difficult. It’s perhaps more an experience thing.”
But discovering FIND gave her the confidence to learn more about networking and how valuable it can be to fledgling entrepreneurs.
“Since then I’ve gone along to other ones, maybe more traditional networking events,” said Ms Weightman.
“I’ve met some really valuable contacts – people I’ve started to work in partnership with and people where I have become their client, such as chartered accountants. It’s just really valuable and useful.”
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